ABS-CBN will air the pilot episode of Betty La Fea this Monday, September 8. This is the first time that the Philippines will have a local version of the Columbian telenovela that took the world by storm. This comedy show will air right after the primetime teleserye Dyosa.
Uploaded: January 23, 2009
(From left) Vhong Navarro, Ruffa Gutierrez, Bea Alonzo, and John Lloyd Cruz are excited to star in this comedy co-directed by Erick Salud and Don Cuaresma. ABS-CBN executives say that the show is slated to run for nine months but it could be extended depending on the reception of viewers.
According to business unit head Deo Endrinal, John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo were their first choice to play the lead characters of this teleserye. However, they delayed announcing that John Lloyd would be Armando so it would not interfere with the promotion of the John Lloyd-Sarah Geronimo movie A Very Special Love.
Ruffa Gutierrez took part in the fashion show that took place during the grand press conference of I Love Betty La Fea. The former beauty queen is cast as Daniela Valencia, Senior Vice President of the advertising company Eco Moda Manila.
Sheryn Regis will play Kylie Torres, a friend of Betty in the company. The singer will be seen on TV as the secretary of Mario Collantes (played by Joem Bascon).
Patricia Suarez is Betty's rival secretary played by Wendy Valdez. The Pinoy Big Brother Season 2 alumna plays a character who is hired not for her qualifications but because of her physical beauty.
This is Alessandra de Rossi's first time to join a Kapamilya show. She is cast as Cristina Alegro in I Love Betty La Fea but she points out that she is now a freelancer who can work in both ABS-CBN and GMA-7.
ABS-CBN built the Eco Moda Manila on the 11th floor of the ELJ building to serve as the set of the show. According to business unit head Deo Endrinal, the cost of constructing the offices reached around P40 million.
Cast members of I Love Betty La Fea joke around while waiting for their fashion show to start. Starting Monday, September 8, audiences will see Bea Alonzo (standing, wearing blue) transform into the nerdy looking Betty.
The Eco Moda Manila office is composed of offices for the top management, a reception area, and several desks decorated with photos of the office workers.
The desk of Beatriz "Betty" Pengson is decorated with photos of her family. Being a very smart girl, Betty is very frustrated about not being hired because of her outward appearance. Finally, she meets Armando Solis, the President of Eco Moda Manila, who will trust her enough to hire her as one of his secretaries.
This is the desk of Daniela Valencia, where Ruffa Gutierrez will be seen working as the scheming Vice-President who wants to be promoted as President and replace Armando (John Lloyd Cruz).
Right after the press conference, confetti was thrown in the air to welcome the cast members of I Love Betty La Fea. The Philippine version will be faithful to the Columbian version titled Yo Soy Betty La Fea.
John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo have been a love team ever since they were first paired together in the ABS-CBN drama series Kaytagal Kang Hinintay (2002).
As the President of the Eco Moda Manila advertising company, Armando has to deal with a lot of information and his secretary Betty will be instrumental in helping him achieve all his goals. Can he fall in love with the smart girl who has yet to develop her full potential?
Bea Alonzo narrates that she is so engrossed with her character Betty La Fea that she finds herself laughing the same way even though she is out with her friends. PEP asked if she felt awkward shooting scenes that require her to hit her face on a door.
"Nag-e-enjoy ako kasi first time ko nalalaro ang character ko. First time kong magkaroon ng character na hindi safe, kahit madapa ka, okay lang," says Bea with a smile.
Betty's family will be portrayed by Ai-Ai delas Alas (Julia, her mother), Sam Concepcion (Andrew, her brother), and Ronaldo Valdez (Hermes, her father). Andrew wants to be a artista so he can help his family solve their financial problems but he will eventually realize that getting a good education is a much better path.
Ruffa Gutierrez might be mean to Betty on the show but she points out that there is a deeper reason for her meanness. "Well she's not the mean type na nangbubugbog or nang-aapi. Galit siya sa mga tao. Pero galit siya for a reason. Malalaman ng mga tao yun through her past," she explains.
Ruffa's character, Daniella Valencia, is a former model who is very ambitious in life. To prepare for hr role, Ruffa undrwent a one-on-one acting workshop with director Laurice Guillen.
Bea Alonzo says that it is a dream come true for her to work with the Concert Comedy Queen Ai-Ai delas Alas. As the mother of Betty, Julia makes sure to encourage her daughter especially during times when she becomes frustrated by discrimation from other people.
Nicolas Mora (Vhong) is Betty's best friend who eventually falls in love with the thick-haired girl. He sees her inner beauty even though it is hidden by the braces and thick glasses.
Meryll Soriano plays Maria Rose Sanchez, a married woman who becomes a confidante of Betty. Rose is the kind-hearted secretary who is the complete opposite of her boss Daniela.
The men who will be Betty's allies are Randolf Stamalacky (Randy), Lloyd Zaragoza (Roman), Vhong Navarro (Nicolas), Joem Bascon (Mario, a friend of Armando), and Ronnie Liang (Enrique Robles, the human resources manager of Eco Moda).
The girls of Eco Moda Manila who will make life difficult for Betty are CJ Jaravata as Lita, Krystel Moreno as Jen, Ruffa Gutierrez as Daniela Valencia, Megan Young as Marcela Valencia, and Wendy Valdez as Patricia Fernadnez.
